Automatic door-latch.



I J. J. TATUM. 7 AUTOMATIC DOOR LATGH.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT..11, 1906.

Patented Oct. 5, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

32 w h m |////////////////////l Wits fitter/veg S munzw. a. GRAHAM can PNOTfl-UTIIOGRAPME J. J. TATUM.

AUTOMATIC DOOR LATCH.

a. 935,946. Patented 0015.5,1909. 2 SHEETS-SHEET z.

JOHN; J. TATUM, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

AUTOMATIC DOOR-LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Got. 5, 1909.

Application filed Septemberll, 13,06, Serial 1T o. 3351,1 53

To all whom it may, concern.-

Be it known that I JOH J. TATUM, of Baltimore, Maryland, have, invented a new and. useful Improvement in Automatlc Door- Latches, which improvement is fully set forth inv the following specification.

The present invention is an improvement in fasteners for slidingdoors, such as those used on freight cars, and has for its object to provide a simple andfeconomical device of this character which is automatic in ac tion and which will effectively secure and re.- tain the door in its closed position when the same is either purposely or accidentally forced against the door stop and to provide means for not only thus holdinetthe door in its closed position, but to readily seal the same in its locked position.

A further object is to prevent the door froinbeing opened without breaking the lock or seal.

The invention will be more thoroughly comprehended by an inspection of the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a freight car showing the application of the improved lock; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View; Fig. 3 is a view in elevation; Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the lock; and Fig. 5 is a view in elevation at right angles to Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is asliding door, for instance the door of a freight car, and 2 is a door stop, here shown as Zshaped in cross-section, suitably secured to the wall of the structure or car as by bolts 2, and against which stop the door rests when in its closed position. which binds the front edge of the door at the point where it engages the locking latch, is fastened to the door by suitable securing means i, and is provided with an opening 5 into which extends a projection 6, which is here shown as integrally formed with the keeper. Suitably secured to the door stop 2 is a plate 7 provided with lugs or ears 8 between which is pivotally mounted'a latch 9 which is inclined at its forward end and provided with a cut-out portion 10 in which the projection 6 is adapted to engage and be retained to hold the door in its closed position. Plate 7 is also provided with a lug 11. Pivotally secured to the rear end of the latch is a locking bar 12, the weight of which tends to force the locking end of the latch into an elevated position. This bar is provided with ears or lugs 13 having perfora- A U-shaped keeper 3' tions 14 formed therein, and between which lugs 12 is provided an opening 12., so that said lug 11, when the bar 12 is in the position illustrated in 1, passes through opening 12- and the perforations in the lugs 1 3; will be in alin ement with a similar perforation in lug 11; and a seal or lock 15 may readily be passed through the alined openings, thus securing. all the parts in their locked position. Plate 7 is further provided with, a. lug. 16 extending. through the keeper and, above projection 6, the function of which is; to prevent the door from. being raisedso that the projection 6 might be removed: from, the cutout portion lOto permit the car door being. moved back, and rende ing the contents ofthe car accessible without breaking the seal. Although the lugs 11 are herein shown as attached to plate 7 which latter is secured to the door stop 2, it will of course be understood that plate 7 may be omitted and the elements indicated formed integrally or otherwise with or on the door stop itself.

The operation of the device is as follows: lVhen the door is open, the forward end of latch 9 occupies an elevated position by reason of the weight of locking bar 12, which latter swings clear of lug 11 so that the latter cannot pass through opening 12. Should now the door be either accidentally or otherwise forced against the door stop, projection 6 by engaging with the incline of the latch causes the forward end thereof to be depressed until the said projection engages in the cut-out portion 10 when the weighted rear end of the latch will hold said projec tion and cut-out portion in intimate engagement. hen the latch 9 has thus engaged the projection 6, the locking arm is in a position to permit lug 11 to pass through opening 12, and said locking arm may readily be forced into contact with plate 7 and a seal or lock 15 passed through the alined openings in lugs 11 and 13.

The fact that when the door is open latch 9 is so swung on its pivot that the opening 12 in locking arm 12 is out of register with lug 11, prevents said lug from accidentally engaging with said opening to hold the latchin its locked position when the door is open, the result of which would be se rious damage to the latch if the door was forced against the same when it could not swing on its pivot.

To open the door it is only necessary to swing locking arm 12 on its pivot to remove lng 11 from opening 12, then rock latch 9 ti? disengage projection 6 from cut-out portion 10, when the door will be free to be opened.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a simple and eflicient closing device which may be Very rapidly locked by a trainman, and which when locked precludes access being had to the car except by breaking the lock or seal.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fastener for sliding doors, the combination of a pivoted latch normally held in latching position, a projection adapted to engage said latch to retain the door in closed position, and a depending element pivoted to said latch for maintaining the same in latching position.

2. In a fastener for sliding doors, the combination of a pivoted latch normally held in latching position, a projection adapted to engage said latch to retain the door in closed position, and a combined weight and locking member depending from said latch for holding the same in latching position and effecting the locking thereof.

3. In a fastener for sliding doors, the combination of a pivoted latch, a projection adapted to engage said latch to retain the door in its closed position, and gravity-actuated automatic means associated with said latch for normally holding its engaging end in a horizontal plane above its pivot and for effecting the latching of the same.

at. In a fastener for sliding doors, the combination of a pivoted latch, a projection adapted to engage said latch to retain the door in its closed position, and a combined weight and locking member depending from said latch for normally holding its engaging end in a horizontal plane above its pivot and for effecting the latching of the same.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN J. TATUM. lVitnesses D. ARDIN CARRIOK, GEO. W. CARRIOK. 

